Crysencio Summerville makes his second Premier League start as West Ham travel to Nottingham Forest today.
The £25million summer signing from Leeds came off the bench against Manchester United to score as the Hammers won 2-1 last weekend and effectively ended Erik ten Hag’s tenure with the Reds.
Beyond a start to home to Chelsea in September, Summerville has largely been used off the bench by Julen Lopetegui so far but the West Ham manager rewards the 23-year-old with more minutes this afternoon.
"He is ready to help us, sometimes in the lineup, sometimes on the bench," said Lopetegui on Thursday. "The important thing is that Crys is working well and he is ready to help the team. I think he is doing well. He has played good matches with us.
"He's a good player, a good boy, he works hard. It's his first experience in West Ham, a demanding club. He is working well and we are happy with him."
However, fellow summer signing Niclas Fullkrug is still missing with the calf injury which has sidelined him since August.
"Fullkrug is not ready to play, he's working, he's recovering, we don't have one date," added Lopetegui. "He's trying to recover and medical staff are helping too. Let's see what is going to happen, but he's out."
Alphonse Areola was dropped against United and hasn’t earned his spot back as Lukasz Fabianski continues in goal, while Jean-Clair Todibo also starts as Carlos Soler and Michail Antonio both drop to the bench in another change of system from Lopetegui.
Mohammed Kudus is still banned after his red card against Tottenham earlier this month.
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen
Subs: Foderingham, Cresswell, Coufal, Casey, Soler, Guilherme, Irving, Antonio, Ings
Injured: Fullkrug
Suspended: Kudus
Time and date: 3pm GMT on Saturday November 2, 2024
Venue: City Ground
